If you’re experiencing spinal discomfort that may be the result of a herniated disc, you should be sure to get a proper diagnosis before embarking on any type of treatment plan. A consultation with your primary care physician will be necessary, or you may choose to see a spine specialist who has experience dealing specifically with herniated discs, such as an orthopedist or neurologist. The initial consultation will likely involve a full review of your symptoms, during which you should describe, in detail, the location, frequency, and severity of all the discomfort you have experienced. The doctor may also perform a physical examination that involves manual palpation of your neck and back, as well as tests for reflexes and range of motion. If the doctor feels that some sort of anatomical abnormality, such as a herniated disc, could be causing your spine pain, he or she will likely recommend further tests to narrow down the possible diagnoses.

Possible Diagnostic Tests for a Herniated Disc

There are a variety of ways that a doctor can get a detailed view of the body’s internal structures, making it easier to see if any sort of displaced tissue is the culprit of your spine pain, including:

– MRI – This stands for “magnetic resonance imaging”; an MRI produces a detailed image of the interior of the body without the use of ionizing radiation, which is found in X-rays and CT scans. Especially useful for looking at soft tissues, like organs and muscles.

– CT scan – Computed tomography is a type of X-ray that produces images of cross-sections of the body through the use of digital geometry processing.

– Myelogram – A contrast dye is injected into the spinal sac in order to detect areas of spinal cord injury, cysts, or tumors; usually reserved for patients who cannot undergo an MRI because they have surgically implanted hardware or a pacemaker.

– Discography – Similar to a myelogram, contrast dye is injected into an intervertebral disc that is believed to be causing back or neck pain. A CT scan usually follows so that the doctor can see if the dyed disc material leaks into the spinal canal, thus indicating a herniated disc.

Other Possible Diagnoses

Diagnostic tests are used as much for ruling out potential diagnoses as they for confirming the correct diagnosis. In the event that your doctor discovers a herniated disc is not causing your back or neck pain, there are a variety of other conditions that he or she may consider as possible culprits. For example, the above diagnostic imaging tests may help the doctor to determine if you have some degree of neural compression due to a spinal tumor, cyst, or abscess. The development of bone spurs (osteophytes), ligament ossification, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteomyelitis, spondylolisthesis, or a fracture may also be at fault. No matter what your diagnosis turns out to be, it’s important that you collaborate with your doctor to create a treatment plan that works for you. Remember that many treatment plans take some degree of trial and error before you find a combination of therapies that help to relieve your spine pain. In the event that you are diagnosed with a herniated disc, a conservative regimen of pain medication, physical therapy, hot/cold compresses, posture modification, gentle stretching, and low-impact exercises will likely be enough for you to manage your pain, and only a very small number of people with herniated discs ever need to consider the option of surgery.

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of herniated discs and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Herniated disc